SerpApi.Org
Disney's live-action "Moana" lost its box-office crown in its second weekend as Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" stormed to the top of the domestic chart with one of the year's biggest debuts.
"Moana" earned an estimated $19 million across North America during the July 17–19 weekend, falling 56% from its opening, according to Gold Derby. The result placed the remake in second place and brought its domestic total to approximately $82 million.
The movie opened to $43 million domestically over the July 10–12 weekend. Although that would be a respectable launch for many releases, it tied "Snow White" for the weakest opening among Disney's live-action remakes, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Directed by Thomas Kail, the remake stars Catherine Laga'aia as Moana, with Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as the demigod Maui. Johnson previously voiced the character in Disney's 2016 animated film.
The remake reportedly cost approximately $250 million to produce, making its slow start particularly concerning. The figure does not include the additional expense of marketing and distributing the movie worldwide.
Reviews have also been unfavorable. "Moana" currently holds a 34% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, with many reviews criticizing the film for closely reproducing the animated original instead of substantially reimagining it. Moviegoers responded more positively, however, giving the remake an A- CinemaScore.
Any chance of "Moana" quickly recovering was complicated by the arrival of "The Odyssey." Nolan's nearly three-hour, R-rated adaptation of Homer's epic opened with $124.5 million in the United States and Canada and $264.1 million worldwide, Universal Pictures reported.
The film, starring Matt Damon as Odysseus, also features Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o and Charlize Theron. Its opening marked the third-biggest domestic debut of 2026 and the year's largest launch for a live-action movie, according to Variety.
Premium screenings played a major role in the blockbuster result. Approximately half of the audience chose premium formats, while IMAX generated $81.4 million globally, according to The Associated Press.
"Moana" is not necessarily finished at the box office. Family movies can benefit from stronger weekday attendance and longer theatrical runs, particularly during the summer. But with its enormous reported budget and sharp second-weekend decline, the remake now faces a difficult path toward profitability.
For Disney, the performance is a rare weak spot in an otherwise strong year—and another sign that even a familiar title and one of the studio's most recognizable stars cannot guarantee live-action remake success.
